Sovereignty

The concept of “sovereignty” is of paramount importance in international relations. The word “sovereign” or “sovereignty” has several related meanings.

A sovereign is a monarch (a king or a queen).

If something is sovereign, then it has the qualities of a king or queen. In other words, it is the “highest power in the land.”

Sovereign also means “fully independent.”

A sovereign state is one that is fully independent. In other words, it is the opposite of a colony.

A sovereign state has “complete authority” to do as it pleases within its own boundaries.

At its core, sovereignty is the idea that “Good walls make good neighbors.” This maxim expresses the belief that the best way to get along with your neighbor is respect the boundaries between your two properties, and to not interfere with what’s happening on the “other side of the wall.”

The principle of sovereignty means that no state is allowed to interfere in the internal affairs of another state. To say that just a bit differently, countries that respect each other’s sovereignty do not interfere in each other’s domestic affairs.

Traditionally, sovereignty is considered the mostimportant norm in international relations. (A “ norm” is a shared expectation about proper behavior. An international norm is a shared expectation about normal relations among states).

Check Your Understanding

Democracy is based on the idea of “popular sovereignty.” What does this term mean? (Hint: The word “popular” comes from the Latin word for “people”).

A shared expectation about how countries should behave is called a __________.

If you bow before your sovereign, whom are you bowing to?

This term refers to “inside the home” or “inside the country.”

What is a “domestic” flight?

What is a “domestic” animal?

If I describe a woman as “domestic,” what do I mean?

What is a word that basically means to the opposite of “international”?

The idea that no state should interfere in the internal affairs of another country is called the principle of __________.

Traditionally, what is the most important norm in international relations?

According to a traditional saying, “Good walls make good neighbors.” What principle does this saying express?